DIY ipod speakers

[boabab95]

okay, so ive been wanting to make something with all the extra wiring and small speakers, so i've decided making ipod speakers. the only thing is i dont know how to attach the battery wires to a switch the a headphone jack then to a speaker. Does anyone know how??? if you do, then can you show a diagram? i am horrible at picturing things in my head. and dont know exactly what im looking for for a headphone jack/plug

these are the things i have,

speaker fits in big part and want headphone jack in small part


Speaker (obviously)


wire


9v battery snap
and the battery.


Can anyone help???

[Agamidae Architect]

It would be very hard to wire the ipod to it. Even with a special adapter. I wouldnt bother with it... try a salvation army or thrift store for a used one and take it apart to study the components thats what i usually do. But when you get down to chips and circuit boards/switchboards etc, it gets pretty complicated.

[repman01]

just get and old pair of headphones then cut off the headphone so you just have the part you plug in, then take the speaker and hook up the positive to the positive and the negative to the negative

this should work because i have done it many times before

[boabab95]

i thought it easy, darn, i was hoping to base it off this but i'd rather not pay $40
for it.

[darc]

You've got two main options (and one of those options sub-divides into thousands of others).

1) Splice a 3.5mm jack into existing speakers (whether you hijack the 3.5mm jack from headphones, other speakers, etc ... I don't care, it's all the same). The problem here is that you are limited by the amount of power that the mp3 player can push down the line... the max power it can output is the max output you can push through the speakers (minus latency and current loss due to resistance). Make sure you check the impedance of the speakers you are using!

2) Splice a 3.5mm jack into an amplifier, and push that output through existing speakers. You can build any number of types of amplifiers... from small and cheap to huge and expensive... it's all up to you.

Those are the two base options... of course you could also find some self-powered speakers (they contain their own amp) and wire to those... that'd simplify things : D

Best of luck, and let me know if you have more questions,
-darc

EDIT : Also, your speaker doesn't look real at all... I'm not sure how good of an output it will be : D

[beckdg]

i think your best bet is watch the trash for old computers or put adds on local sharing sites for old computer speakers for free. i've given computer speakers to so many people over the last few years i can't keep track of it. then all you need is a stereo mini to rca "y" cable.

i hook my pc's, walkmen, discmen, mp3 players, ipods, etc. to pc speakers, ipod speakers, some portable radios, large stereo units, surround sound units, dj mixers, etc. this very same way. i've been doing it for years... which should be obvious considering some things i've listed.

the one reason i haven't posted on this subject is i see no necessity to over-complicate this idea and still come out with inferior sound. as well as the idea of having to purchase or splice components that will already be wired in correctly with something you can find in the trash. now if you were to keep the components and connections in tact and just wanted an interesting housing then that'd be understandable but i would refrain from splicing most newer rca or stereo connectors. they really usually don't last well after this is done.

i'm not a trash PICKER but i have stopped dead in my tracks, picked up a 19" or more tv, took it home, removed the housing and blown the dust off with my air compressor, plugged it in to test it and gave it to someone who could use it or sold it to a pawn shop more times than i wish to recall. most people are so clueless or scared of electronics it's amazing.

heck i'm listening to bob marley on free jbl speakers looking at another free 2.1 set of altec lansing set up to one of my other desktops while the bose i bought are sitting downstairs disconnected right now. not only that but i've given 3 sets to my neighbor alone.

patience my young apprentice. a jewel in the rough will sooner than you think present it's glory to you.

[boabab95]

now if you were to keep the components and connections in tact and just wanted an interesting housing then that'd be understandable

ya i want it small and somewhat pocket sized and the speaker fits perfectly.

darc- lol my speaker looks nothing like that.

[beckdg]

try checking instructables or hackaday...

[boabab95]

okay thanks

[darc]

O, if you're soldering and you're an audiophile, use silver based solder instead of lead based...

-darc